Perceptions of Elementary School Students: Experiences and Dreams about the Life Studies Course

• Published in: Universal journal of educational research (Print) Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 440 - 454
• Main Authors: Baysal, Z. Nurdan, Tezcan, Özlem Apak, Araç, Kamil Ersin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Horizon Research Publishing 01.03.2018
• Subjects: Art Expression; Biological Sciences; Elementary School Students; Foreign Countries; Freehand Drawing; Grade 2; Grade 3; Instructional Materials; Phenomenology; Semi Structured Interviews; Student Attitudes; Student Educational Objectives; Student Experience; Student Interests; Student Satisfaction; Turkey
• ISSN: 2332-3205
• DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2018.060311

This study seeks to identify elementary school students' views and perceptions of the Life Studies course through verbal and visual instruments. It employs a descriptive phenomenological research design. The study surveyed second- and third-grade students attending one private elementary school and two state elementary schools. The data was collected using a form including open-ended questions prepared by the researchers. The same form asked students to draw a picture of what kind of setting/class they envisioned for the Life Studies course. As part of the study, which incorporated feedback from 146 students, pictures were examined, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 students selected through criterion sampling. The data collected from both the open-ended questions and the pictures and interviews was analyzed using content analysis. According to the research results, the students considered Life Studies a fun course that teaches and facilitates life skills and provides new information; however, they also reported that Life Studies was a boring course because it requires too much writing and they do not like some activities.